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Posts tagged andaz apna apna
Santoshi owes 1.10 cr to K Sera Sera?
Jul 17th
Mauli Singh (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2010)
Despite his latest hit Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, director Raj Kumar Santoshi owes more than a crore to K Sera Sera and has been making excuses for not returning the money to them, for three years now.
Threatening to take the matter to court soon, Sanjay Lai, MD, K Sera Sera, informs, “We had signed Santoshi for a film in 2007 and paid him Rs 1.10 crore but since the film didn’t take off we requested him to return the money.
After dilly-dallying for a while he flatly told us that he doesn’t have the money to pay us.
He gave us a very strange argument saying that if he pays us the money he will not be able to run his kitchen.”
A strange excuse indeed. Mr Santoshi does seem to live up to one of his titles, Andaz Apna Apna.
Ranbir-Santoshi to team up again in 2011
Mar 26th
Rajkumar Santoshi is planning another comedy with Ranbir Kapoor next year
By Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 26, 2010)
After the grim, the grin. As soon as Rajkumar Santoshi wraps up shooting for the English language thriller The Outsider with Amitabh Bachchan in New York, he will be back to the desi masala genre.
Having tasted success with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Rajkumar Santoshi is determined to return to comedy in 2011, with Ranbir Kapoor again in the lead. The director says, “After Andaz Apna Apna and Ajab Prem…., the pressure to complete a hat-trick of comedies is immense.
But let me make it clear, Ranbir and I aren’t doing another comedy like Ajab… This time I have a far more subtle and understated comic subject in mind. It will be a new language for comedy, nothing like what we’ve seen already.”
Meanwhile, Amitabh will be doing a month-long workshop with the American cast before the shooting of The Outsider starts in July.
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| Ranbir Kapoor | Rajkumar Santoshi | |
The Bollywood Merry Go Round
Nov 13th
YEH DOSTI…(From left) Hrithik Roshan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. For more pictures of the stars, visit, http://photogallery.indiatimes.com
Foes turn into friends, stars bonding big time now…
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 13, 2009)
Raj Kapoor’s famous ditty Dost Dost Na Raha can ring true for so many in Bollywood. Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and Anupam Kher are some recent examples of friendships that have gone sour. The quest for name, fame and money has driven a wedge between friends. Down the years, one has seen many close relationships fall by the wayside like dry leaves, bereft of emotion. But an interesting phenomenon is now on the rise. Having watched countless friends turn foes, what is interesting now is to watch the reverse. Foes turning into friends.
When Hrithik Roshan blazed into Bollywood with Kaho Na Pyaar Hai in 2000, he almost wrested the reigning Badshah Shah Rukh Khan’s throne. With the paparazzi adding to their woes SRK and Duggu started out on a wrong foot. And SRK, who was hanging mid-air at a Filmfare Awards’ night event, joked saying, “Come Hrithik… come and pull me down.” However, that was another day. Today both Duggu and SRK are bonding big time. Sources say, “Every other night, the King and the Prince are dining together.’’ What makes their friendship more special is the fact that the girls, Gauri Khan and Sussanne Roshan, are also thick.
Aamir Khan admits that he didn’t approve of Salman Khan’s cavalier attitude to his work when they were filming Andaz Apna Apna. Said Aamir, “I even ticked Salman, Raveena Tandon and Paresh Rawal off during AAA because they had issues to resolve with the producer. And, they were treating the project badly.’’ Today Salman and Aamir are very good friends. Salman’s sketches on the Ghajini superstar are the piece de resistance at Aamir’s residence, and the boys often bond over a drink when AK’s wife Kiran Rao is out on her work assignment. Aamir even said, “That confrontation we had years ago has actually strengthened our bond.’’
Akshay Kumar admits that Suniel Shetty and he shared a hatelove relationship when they started out and now they have a love-love relationship which was in full force during the shoot of De Dhana Dan. Suniel said, “We were immature, yaar, now we’re men in our 40s. Where is the question of us fighting? It all seems so silly. Akki and I are not the best of friends but we do enjoy a camaraderie that is there for everyone to see.’’ If the Bollywood men are bonding big time, the women too have left their previous grievances aside and become friends. Kareena Kapoor and Bipasha Basu who argued like cats during Ajnabi are now friends. And so are Bebo and Preity Zinta. Guess when the boys and the girls realise that they aren’t hunting the same game, they let their guard down.
"I don't want audiences to leave any organs home"-Raj Kumar Santoshi [Part 1]
Nov 9th
By Joginder Tuteja, November 9, 2009 – 12:12 IST
After speaking to Raj Kumar Santoshi, one can be rest assured that his zany sense of humour is not restricted to the characters that he brings on screen. He may state amusing things with a dead pan expression but scratch the surface and you would realise that the man has quite a few valid points to make. One such point is around the entire mentality of filmmakers from the current generation who have a ready ‘excuse’ of leaving their brains at home when walking in for a film. In a holds-no-bar two part conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Raj Kumar Santoshi challenges this new way of presenting films before the audiences and wonders if this trend would make him corrupt as well in years to come.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani has opened to a huge response all over. Some smart marketing and pitching worked in it’s favour?
See, we were very clear from the very beginning that this wasn’t an over the top comedy that we were offering. Also, unlike so many filmmakers out there, we were never apologetic in telling audience what our film was all about. We never urged our audiences to leave their brains at home. Why should they? Shouldn’t films allow audiences to use some parts of their brains at least? Why should that be the case? This is why I never wanted my audiences to leave their brains behind. Please bring all your organs with you in the theatre; don’t leave anything behind.
 We never urged our audiences to leave their brains at home. Why should they?  |
But in the trend of some out and out slapstick comedies or action thrillers, makers do make declarations for audiences to leave their brains behind.
This reflects on their confidence level. Maybe they themselves aren’t confident of what they have made. Even slapstick requires some intelligence when it is being made. Have you ever heard Walt Disney stating something like ‘please leave your brains behind’ before the release of their films?
You have been in the industry for a couple of decades now and have seen changing trends. It is nice to see you bouncing back in a big way with Ajab Prem… However, how do you look at the entire filmmaking process and the economics involved today?
Frankly, I am disturbed. Today, people are making films just for 3 days. ‘Bas opening lag jaaye picture ki…’ is the kind of statement which is heard ever so often. They don’t care whether they have made a good or a bad film; all they care for is if the moolah has been recovered in the opening weekend or not. Once they are done with the film, they don’t even care about it after it’s release. They just move on. There is just no sense of ownership any more. Where has the entire passion gone? All passion seems to be reserved now towards giving a stylish look to the film and promoting it to the hilt so that box office numbers come up fast. Quality has taken a back seat and quantity is on the fore front today. By hook or by crook, it’s just the opening that seems to be mattering for most. That’s not filmmaking for sure.
| Today, people are making films just for 3 days. ‘Bas opening lag jaaye picture ki…’ |
But money does talk at the end of the day?
What money are we talking about? Within an opening weekend of the film’s release, we see huge declarations being made. ‘This movie has made 60 crores, 80 crores, 100 crores in 3 days flat’. Kahan se number aaye ye saare? And then this entire figure occupies more than 90% of the film’s poster with the name of the film relegated somewhere at the bottom. Filmmakers feel that at the end of the day, history will remember the number, not the film. If this is the way a film should look, i.e. only a box office number, then I am afraid it is not a healthy trend.
Today, your own film Ajab Prem… is expected to project huge numbers too due to it’s massive opening…
I am glad that has happened. I made the film with the right intent and went by my instinct. I wasn’t following a formula here. Everything just fitted in perfectly for Ajab Prem…, right from getting the right producers like TIPS who have done such a fabulous job in marketing films like Race and Kismat Konnection or getting such a fantastic musical score by Pritam or having the best young actors like Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif on board. I am ecstatic with the film’s success because I now won’t have to follow the trend of other filmmakers; I would be able to conceive a film and make it the way I want to without compromising on my core ethics.
So dabbling in varied genres would continue for Raj Kumar Santoshi?
Definitely. I have always told stories that I have felt like telling at any point of time without worrying about trends. Ghayal and Damini were action and drama flicks at the very beginning of my career. Andaz Apna Apna which is so much considered to be a cult classic decade and a half down the line, was a comedy where I shifted gears. Ghatak was an emotional action film. Pukar was an espionage thriller. Khakee had a lot of drama to it. Lajja was about women power. Halla Bol was revolutionary. Today, Ajab Prem… is a comedy. Tomorrow, I may make an entirely different film. That’s the way I have been.
Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of the conversation where Raj Kumar Santoshi reacts on digs taken on him by other filmmakers, delay in completion of his films, failure of Family and Halla Bol and how he is quite sure that Ranbir and Katrina are sure shot superstars just round the corner.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Movie Review: AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI by FENIL SETA
Nov 7th
I am out of the theatre and still thinking, “Is this the same Rajkumar Santoshi who gave some hard-hitting and intense films for a long time?”. Yup, he directed Andaz Apna Apna but that was like some 15-16 years ago. Post-AAA, he came up with close to dozen intense and almost realistic films. A certain image of Santoshi was carved out thanks to his kind of films. But with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, he breaks that image and proves that he STILL can come up with solid youthful entertainers! Sweet, witty, little absurd… Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani succeeds completely in making you laugh!
The story of the movie: Prem (Ranbir Kapoor) lives in a town called Mount Valley and runs ‘Happy Club’ in the coffin shop of one of his friends’ father! He is carefree, happy and wants to make others happy. A case of mistaken identity leads him to meeting Jenny (Katrina Kaif). He soon falls in love with her but doesn’t profess even though both he and Jenny become thick pals. The reason-both are as different as chalk and cheese. To begin with, Prem is the son of a staunch Hindu while Jenny is Catholic. Jenny wants her dream man to be literate and who works hard for his family. But Prem is 9th standard pass and doesn’t work at all. And lastly, Prem is a vegetarian and Jenny is not (or is she?)! And does Jenny feel the same for Prem? Or does she love someone else?
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is a different entertainer, esp in terms of storytelling and execution. Every director in Bollywood attempting a comic film takes a usual stereotypical route. But RS doesn’t show any such signs. He treats the plot in his own way. Either he knew it would work or maybe, he himself was little confused and misfit for the film! But whatever maybe the reason, the end product rocks!
If one is looking forward to some sense, logic and intelligent comedy, then Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is not for them! The film abounds in complete loud entertainment and also in absurdity at times. However, it gives equal importance to romance and scores here too. In fact, it maintains a fine balance between romance and comedy and delivers a fab rom-com to the viewers!
Some scenes rock in the film and make you laugh loudly! Ranbir’s entry in the beginning itself is hilarious! The following kidnapping sequence and the weird misunderstanding that crops up in Katrina’s mind was damn funny! Note how a sad song is incorporated in the beginning itself when the prem kahani has just begun, unlike in other films where tragic kind of tracks are mostly towards the end. It’s a novel film as I said!
The film gets a bit slow in the 2nd half and the song ‘Tu Jaane Na’ in this hour stops the flow of narrative. That’s one glitch in the film besides the title of the film. It sounds cool but doesn’t suit the film completely. The explanation for the title was done towards but still it didn’t justify. But fortunately, no one’s complaining nowadays about incorrect titles. Films like All The Best and Wanted were also so named although there was no connection between the title and the content!
The film belongs to Ranbir Kapoor, without a shred of doubt! He was extremely lovable and does an extraordinary job. He was funny during comic scenes without going overboard even in a single place. At the same time, he scores in emotional scenes as well. Watch out for him when he keeps on regretting about Jenny but at the same time, tells his pals to change the topic. And how can I forget-the club scene where he dances flawlessly and comically a la Shammi Kapoor! That sequence would have been just another funny scene if it was not for Ranbir. With such great job in all his 4 films that has released till now, Ranbir proves that he’s soon gonna be the next superstar! Fortunately, we’ll get to see him soon in Rocket Singh and Rajneeti. Ranbir is supposed to have strong roles in both the films. This Kapoor boy is definitely on a roll!
Katrina Kaif was equally good as Ranbir and surprises one and all with such a fab performance. Earlier, she used to face the criticism that she is famous only because of her looks. But all this will stop now for sure. With Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, she has proved that she can act well and can maintain an important position in the film even in front of a powerhouse performer like Ranbir Kapoor! Way to go, Katz!
If you hated Darshan Jariwala in Life Partner, you’ll love him in this film as Ranbir’s dad. His scenes with Ranbir were excellent! Even Smita Jaykar, who played Ranbir’s mom was great and is a perfect actor for the role of actor’s moms! Upen Patel disappointed. He was a miscast-with his Western accent, he didn’t suit at all as the son of a politican (Govind Namdeo) seeking Hindu votes. Also look out for the scene where he laughs in a stupid manner! I liked Upen in 36 China Town and Shakalaka Boom Boom but here, he was simply not impressive at all!
Govind Namdeo’s performance was nothing special. Zakir Hussain convincingly played the over the top villain. The actor who played Tony did a great job. All actors playing Ranbir’s pals were good. Salman Khan rocked in a special appearance and the person who played Jesus delivered a ‘divine’ performance!
Pritam’s music is rocking. So were the songs. ‘Tera Hone Laga’ and ‘Main Tera Dhadkan Teri’ has already topped the chartbusters. ‘Prem Ki Naiyaa’ is a cool number too. S. Thiru’s cinematography was flawless. Nitesh Roy’s art direction was impressive, as it reminded of the sets used in the comedies of 90s.
There’s nothing much to speak about the story as it was plain ordinary. However, the screenplay by R D Tailang and Rajkumar Santoshi was fantastic. The one-liners, the gags and the funny hilarious situations that arise in the film are praiseworthy. So kudos to the duo!
And finally, hats off to Rajkumar Santoshi for coming up with such a wonderful entertaining film even though he has been making some serious intense films since 15 years. Many directors have failed in the past after attempting a genre which isn’t their cup of tea. But Rajkumar Santoshi survives, all thanks to his great execution. He’s also there in one of the scenes (did anyone notice?). Note how scenes unintentionally remind of Andaz Apna Apna. The humour in some scenes and also the kind of misunderstandings faced by some characters as also the climax fight-all give a sense of déjà vu!
Some of the best scenes of the film:
1. The first scene
2. The ‘yellow outfit’ sequence
3. Jenny slaps Prem
4. The scene involving Salman Khan
5. Prem turning into non veg
6. Dancing Prem at the club
7. The intermission point
8. The chase
9. Prem regretting that he didn’t profess to Jenny
10. Prem meeting Rahul for the first time
11. Jenny hiding in Prem’s house
12. The scene at the police station
13. Prem at the Church
14. The songs ‘Tera Hone Laga’, ‘Mein Tera Dhadkan’
15. The last 25 minutes
On the whole, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is an out and out entertainer. It has some really wonderful comic moments that are novel and will make you laugh for sure. At the same time, the romantic moments are well handled. Ranbir rocks and his chemistry with Katrina is electrifying! A must watch for people of all ages!
My rating-**** out of 5!
This review first appeared on MouthShut.com: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Ajab_Prem_Ki_Ghajab_Kahani-179060-1.html
Movie Review: AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI by TARAN ADARSH
Nov 6th
By Taran Adarsh, November 6, 2009 – 09:40 IST
Rajkumar Santoshi has changed lanes. Known for intense, hard-hitting movies [with the sole exception of ANDAZ APNA APNA], Santoshi now attempts a rom-com in AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, his new endeavour. That’s something we all know by now, right?
But not many of us know that Santoshi is equally at home handling a comedy. And AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it.
| BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM |
If you’re attempting a rom-com, you need to get a few things right…
One, the romance should be livewire. Ditto for the chemistry between the on-screen pair.
Two, the film should make you laugh. As simple as that!
//
In AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI, the romantic moments are endearing. Most importantly, the on-screen chemistry is electrifying. Ranbir and Katrina look great together!
I’ve often said that comedy is serious business and the audience has moved over from banana peel humour in movies. The comedy in AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI – though it borders on absurdity – is funny in most parts. Sure, there’re times when you feel that the humour looks forced [climax fight especially], but you don’t grudge it since Santoshi’s intentions are crystal clear from Scene 1 onwards: Entertainment ke liye kuch bhi karega.
Another factor that goes in its favour is Pritam’s music, who belts out a couple of lilting tracks.
On the flip side, the film could’ve done with a fresh plotline. When you talk of ‘Ghazab Kahani’, it has to be ghazab by all means. It shouldn’t fall prey to predictability, but the second hour succumbs to mediocrity occasionally.
Yet, despite the blemishes, AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI is a full-on entertainer. One thing is for sure, you’d fall in prem with Prem and his antics. An ideal date movie that should connect with the youth.
Prem’s [Ranbir Kapoor] fundas in life were very simple – be happy, make others happy. A case of mistaken identity leads Prem to almost kidnap Jenny [Katrina Kaif], who was brought up by indifferent and uncaring foster parents.
Prem falls in love with Jenny, but realizes gradually that Jenny is in love with someone else [Upen Patel], the son of a conniving politician [Govind Namdeo]. Prem decides to sacrifice his love and get the lovers married.
In the first sequence, Santoshi makes it loud and clear that AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI is very unlike his previous ventures; this one harbours on illogical situations. Right from the time Ranbir sets his eyes on Katrina [the yellow outfit episode], the film is a roller coaster ride.
A few sequences entertain you thoroughly. Sample these: Katrina slaps Ranbir when he stammers as well. She feels he’s imitating her; Ranbir’s sequence in the church; Salman Khan’s cameo; the love-hate relationship that Ranbir and his father [Darshan Jariwala] share; the sequence at the party; the interval point when Ranbir falls on the ground literally… the first hour of the film simply rocks!
But the second hour makes you a little grumpy. The third angle of the triangle [Upen Patel] isn’t convincing, while his father’s [Govind Namdeo] track is beaten to death. Even the villain [Zakir Hussain] is a sore point.
Watching the second hour makes you feel that the film may’ve had a longer running time and in order to bring down the length, a number of scenes must’ve been chopped off, which, in turn, must’ve resulted in continuity lapses. For instance, Katrina’s kidnap by the villains looks too sudden. When and how did it occur?
Yet, there’re two sequences in this hour which are remarkable and which should bring the house down. One, when Ranbir wears Katrina’s top to hide her presence in the house and the climax fight, when Katrina mistakenly bangs Ranbir a couple of times.
Directorially, Santoshi proves the naysayers wrong and bounces back with a film that the youth would relate to. You can’t write off the maker and AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it. Pritam’s music has ‘Hit’ written all over it. S. Thiru’s cinematography is first-rate.
Ranbir Kapoor is the next big thing and AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI proves it yet again. He’s charismatic, emotes exceptionally well and tickles your funny bone without making faces. It’s a fantastic performance all the way. Katrina Kaif continues to surprise. She surprised you in NEW YORK. She surprises you again in this film. She scores in both emotional and light scenes. Also, Ranbir and Katrina make a wonderful on-screen couple.
Darshan Jariwala is exceptional. Smita Jaykar is very good. Upen Patel is decent. Govind Namdeo is getting typecast. Zakir Hussain is fair. Navneet Nishan is alright.
On the whole, AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI entertains majorly. At the box-office, the fantastic pre-release campaign coupled with the terrific chemistry between Ranbir and Katrina, excellent music by Pritam and tremendous appeal for youth should ensure a big start for the film at the ticket window. The business prospects seem excellent, thus ensuring handsome returns for its investors.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 73
Nov 5th
TWO DIVERSE FILMS THIS WEEKEND!
8 Fridays left before the year 2009 comes to an end. Out of these 8, 7 Fridays are marked with the release of some very big and significant films. Tomorrow, Fri Nov 6, will see the release of two extremely diverse films-Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (APKGK) and Jail. While the former is an adorable romantic comedy, the latter is an intense realistic film.
Without doubt, APKGK has an edge over Jail. The Ranbir-Katrina starrer will surely open huge thanks to its lead pair, songs, wonderful promotion and its director (Rajkumar Santoshi) who is back to comic genre after Andaz Apna Apna. Also I feel even the title of the film is damn impressive. What makes it unique is that it’s a long one! Nowadays, we hardly have film titles consisting of 5 words. We mostly find one or two word titles. The very few recent long titled films which I can recollect is Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Maan Gaye Mughall-E-Azam, Money Hai To Honey Hai, Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na etc. Coming back to the film, it also seems like a clean entertainer and thus, a perfect family film as well. However, again, the big names associated with the film and wonderful promos don’t guarantee that the film would rock (recently, there have been many such films). So, I am gonna watch this film but like everytime, with less expectations!
Jail, on the other hand, have more chances of being impressive than APKGK. Director Madhur Bhandarkar has always projected realism wonderfully and Jail also looks like another winner from his side. The true picture inside prisons that the film is going to place before the audience is a major reason for watching this film. Neil Mukesh, like everytime, has gone into the skin of his character and is expected to deliver a smashing performance. The film should grow big time with a positive word-of-mouth.
In the end, it will be the content and the audience verdict that will matter. So which film are you planning to watch? Do let me know!
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PAA’S FIRST CUT IS OUT!
The first cut of the most unique film of the year, Paa, is out! The USP of the film as we all know by now is Amitabh Bachchan portraying a 12 year old child suffering from Progeria with Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan as its parents. The film is directed by Cheeni Kum director R Balki. On the eve of the promo release, I was mightily excited with so many questions running in my mind! Will Amitabh Bachchan look convincing as the child? How has he altered his voice, posture, mannerisms etc in order to suit his character? Will Abhishek Bachchan look convincing as Amitabh’s dad? And what about Vidya Balan? Will she be sidelined in this film or does she have an important role as Big B’s mom? So many questions but not all got a satisfying reply. The first teaser exposes Big B’s looks but doesn’t project his dialogue-delivery. But I am sure it’ll manage to create hype with each passing day!
Ideally, the promotional campaign of the film should have kick-started last month on Oct 11 i.e. on Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday. It would have been the best day for the launch. But instead, the makers just gave a full page ad of the film in newspapers with no pic of its lead actors and just a write-up ‘Amitabh turns 13 today’! Now, the film is just a month away (it’s releasing on Dec 4) and the maker may not get much time to publicize now.
TO WATCH THE PROMO OF PAA CLICK HERE
This post first appeared on MouthShut.com: http://www.mouthshut.com/diary/cacdloqto/Fenils-Bollywood-Talk73
Get ready for full-on ghazab entertainment!
Nov 1st
DANCING AWAY: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif
Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif’s film is going to be the mother of rom-coms, say its makers
SHARIN WADER BUTANI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; November 1, 2009)
This is going to be a ghazab ka phillum simply because the hottest sensations of Bollywood, Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor, are coming together on screen as a jodi for the first time. The promos of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
already have people rating them as a hit. Tips Films, which is presenting this romantic comedy, believes that it has a winner, given its earlier track record — Race and Kismat Konnection. Like Ranbir and Katz, producer Ramesh Taurani too is excited about his offering because it’s directed by Rajkumar Santoshi who has given hits like Andaz Apna Apna, Barsaat, Damini and many others. “Ajab… is even more hilarious than Andaz Apna Apna,” said Taurani, “in fact, if Andaz had comedy, Ajab has comedy and romance in it.” Telling BT why they chose Ranbir and Katz, Santoshi said, “The film required a fresh pair. We were very impressed with Ranbir and Katrina. They have great screen presence and their fans will love them in this film.” The stars hit it off instantly on day one. They shot extensively on exotic locations in Turkey, Goa and Ooty, and like in the film, they had fun on the sets too. “Don’t go by her looks, she’s a bully,” said Ranbir as Katrina smiled and added, “People across all sections will be able to relate to this film.” The music, too, is catching on with audiences and topping charts, especially the song Tera Hone Laaga Hoon.
already have people rating them as a hit. Tips Films, which is presenting this romantic comedy, believes that it has a winner, given its earlier track record — Race and Kismat Konnection. Like Ranbir and Katz, producer Ramesh Taurani too is excited about his offering because it’s directed by Rajkumar Santoshi who has given hits like Andaz Apna Apna, Barsaat, Damini and many others. “Ajab… is even more hilarious than Andaz Apna Apna,” said Taurani, “in fact, if Andaz had comedy, Ajab has comedy and romance in it.” Telling BT why they chose Ranbir and Katz, Santoshi said, “The film required a fresh pair. We were very impressed with Ranbir and Katrina. They have great screen presence and their fans will love them in this film.” The stars hit it off instantly on day one. They shot extensively on exotic locations in Turkey, Goa and Ooty, and like in the film, they had fun on the sets too. “Don’t go by her looks, she’s a bully,” said Ranbir as Katrina smiled and added, “People across all sections will be able to relate to this film.” The music, too, is catching on with audiences and topping charts, especially the song Tera Hone Laaga Hoon.
“The song wasn’t choreographed as such. The two were told to be natural and their screen presence added magic to the song,” said the filmmakers. Pritam, who scored the music, roped in some big singers like Atif Aslam, Kailash Kher, KK, Sunidhi Chauhan, Alisha Chinoy and Hard Kaur for this rom-com which is set to hit theatres on Novembe 6.
"Katz is a bully!"
Oct 22nd
ADORABLE: Ranbir Kapoor with Katrina Kaif. For more pictures of the stars, log on to http://photogallery.indiatimes.com
…complains Ranbir Kapoor who only ‘complimented’ her in their first film
HARSHADA REGE Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; October 21, 2009)
He’s ‘fun loving’ and she’s ‘a person loving fun’ — that’s how Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif describe each other. The two come together for the very first time in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani that’s produced by Ramesh Taurani for Tips Films , directed by Rajkumar Santoshi and releases on November 6. The crackling chemistry between the two is for everyone to see as they get talking about the film.
Katz takes the lead, saying, “It’s an ordinary love story about ordinary people leading ordinary lives, but told in a very unusual way.” Ranbir adds, “That’s the perfect way to describe it.” The two are on a roll pulling each others’ legs, but at the same time, they seem pretty much in sync. So what’s the secret behind the chemistry? “Chemistry is not something that two individuals have, it’s what two characters have in a film. And it’s great that people are seeing this chemistry because this is a romantic film. I am happy that people can see it even in the promos of the film,” says Ranbir. Katz agrees with him, “If you want the same thing and if your vision is the same, then you are working as a team. That’s something that leads to great chemistry.” Obviously, they had a great time shooting together. “Katrina was constantly bullying me and I was constantly complimenting her,” says Ranbir, tongue firmly-in-cheek.
The two actors also bonded well because of their working styles. “Rajji is very specific as a director. He knows exactly what he wants and he gets his actors to do that,” Katz says. “But that doesn’t mean he’s a dictator. If we thought a scene could be done some other way, he would hear us out. We did get bound script and dialogues, but there were improvisations on the sets too,” adds Ranbir. Like Santoshi’s earlier comic caper Andaz Apna Apna, this one too looks like a mad comedy. Speaking about the film, they say that its USP is that it will appeal to a much wider audience. “It’s a blast, really. A complete entertainer,” says Ranbir. “It’s a meant for everyone. The appeal is, definitely, wider and it’s something that people across all sections will be able to relate to,” feels Katz. But both feel that it’s not just another runof-the-mill comedy. It has a lovely story, it’s not just a bunch of jokes put together,” says Ranbir of this ghazab kahani by Tips on which they had fun working with Ramesh Taurani.
harshada.rege@timesgroup.
Aamir-Sallu to come together for a film?
Oct 7th
Fifteen years after Andaz Apna Apna, close friends Aamir and Salman decide to star together in a film, which they will also produce
By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 07, 2009)
| It doesn’t get bigger than this. Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have decided to produce as well as act together in a film. While the script is still being finalised, buzz in trade circles is that the film will be co-produced by Aamir Khan Productions and Salman’s brother Sohail Khan’s production house.
A source says, “Salman and Aamir will have equal footage in the film. The rest of the cast is being finalised and the director will also soon be on board.” That Salman and Aamir did not see eye to eye in the only film they have done together, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Andaz Apna Apna in 1994 is well-known. But all that is a thing of the past and ever since the two stars started bonding post Ghajini, they had been seriously planning to do a film together.
They were reluctant to act together for an outside banner after all these years as they had reservations whether another banner would do equal justice to them as far as the quality and the length of their roles is concerned. Many initially thought that Salman and Aamir would again star together in the sequel to Andaz Apna Apna as director Rajkumar Santoshi has been keen on it. However, buzz in trade circles is that Aamir doesn’t want to star in the sequel. Commenting on the story, Aamir’s official spokesperson says, “There is nothing in the offing right now. His hands are full with 3 Idiots and three films, which are under production. He is not planning any other film right now.” |
